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Surprisingly sophisticated for a movie about giant irradiated ants, with a memorable visual style and tight plotting, all played straight. The characters are cutouts, except for doddering scientist Edmond Gwenn — and James Whitmore achieves a certain nobility with his depiction of a lug cop who (**spoiler**) sacrifices himself to save some trapped children.
Good build up to the first reveal of the ants, and some genuine tension in the scenes of the scientists and soldiers delving deeper and deeper into the ant nests, unsure of what waits around the next corner.
As a bonus, this has the biggest number of Wilhelm screams I’ve heard in a single movie.
Well worth a watch, and an interesting pairing with Aliens.
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